WEEKEND WRAP: While BNP steals spotlight, SoCal wins abroad

All eyes may be fixated on the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells this week, but that doesn’t mean some of the brightest young SoCal stars are taking a break from competition. In fact, some are returning to the region for some home cooking as Bakersfield and Calabasas Futures events are on the March schedule.

Last week, Daniel Nguyen (Oxnard) rekindled what could be an annual tradition on tour in Asia. Nguyen, who won three consecutive events across the Pacific last summer, notched his first title of this year at an ITF Futures event in Nishi-Tama, Japan. The #3 seeded Nguyen faced #5 Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul (THA) in the final, a 5-7, 7-6, 6-4 marathon that stretched over two and a half hours. Nguyen remains in Japan this week for another event, this time in Nishi-Tokyo.

In Canada, JC Aragone (Yorba Linda) reached the semifinals of the Pro Circuit in Sherbrooke, a tournament won by qualifier Michael Redlicki (USA) of Duke University. Aragone remains in Canada for a Challenger event this week at Drummondville.

Steve Johnson (Redondo Beach) and Jared Donaldson (Irvine) saw early departures from Indian Wells, where Sam Querrey (Santa Monica) and Taylor Fritz (Palos Verdes) remain in the singles hunt. Johnson and Donaldson head to Irving, Texas for an ATP Challenger.

The Bakersfield Tennis Open begins this week following a weekend qualifier. Alex Sarkissian (Glendale) is seeded second in the event. (btopen.org)

Monterey Park’s Vania King remains in doubles contention at Indian Wells, the only Southern Californian woman still alive in either singles or doubles.

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The USTA Southern California Section, which was founded in 1887, is one of the 17 sections of the United States Tennis Association.

Comprising Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties, the SCTA is one of the smallest in area of the USTA’s 17 sections.